Legendary World War II bomber the Texas Raiders on show

By Heather Alexander |
May 7, 2014

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Photo By Gulf Coast Wing Commemorative Air Force

The Texas Raiders is one of only nine remaining B-17 bombers left out of 12,700 built for WWII.

Aircraft fans will get the chance to check out and even fly in a legendary B-17 bomber Saturday as the plane goes on display to honor Texas veterans.

The aircraft is just one just of nine B-17s remaining out of more than 12,000 built to take part in World War II.

People will be able to get inside, check out the wing gunner positions, talk to crew members as well as descend into the nose where the bombardiers sat.

"This aircraft has been referred to as the most accurately restored B-17 aircraft; it sports original bombardier equipment, authentic radio equipment, cockpit equipment plus 50-caliber machine guns," said Nancy Kwiecien of the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

The CAF has owned the vintage plane, known by the curiously plural name Texas Raiders, since 1967 and will display the flying fortress at David Wayne Hooks airport in Spring starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, with flights going up from 1 p.m.

A tour of the plane will cost $10 donation for adults and $5 for kids, but the rare chance to fly in the plane will be far more costly.

A seat in the wing gunner position with big windows looking out runs $475, the bombardier and navigator seats right in the front of the plane are $750.

Just eight people can go up at a time but the CAF says there are still a few spots remaining.

The event is just one of several being held in the area over the next month with a full schedule listed here.